Electkic fixttjee



Oct. 2, 1928.

G ARRAS.

ELE CTRI C FIXTURE Filed June 29, 1925 Patented Get. 2, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE ARRA$, 01

PATENT OFFICE.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC FIXTURE.

Application filed Jane 29,

chain made of hollow metal units, which can be varied in length by simply attaching or disconnecting an desired ninnber of t is units. A. further object of the invention is to provide improved means for supporting the W fixture. A further means is to provide a hollow protecting and concealing chain for electrical conductors which is easily assembled and taken apart. Other objects will appear hereinafter. l r

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view partly in section of a fixture constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of: onset the parts which makes up a hollow chain unit; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 8 of Fig. 2; Fig. i. is a plan view of a blank from which the hollow chain sections areinade; Fig. 5 is a perspec tive showing an enlarged view of one of the link connections; and Fig. 6 illustrates a 535 niodilication in which a separate split link is used for a connector.

It is common practiceto use a metal chain for supporting or suspending electric fixtures and to weave the electrical conductor wires in and out of the chain links to approximate the construction of the chain itself and thus to partially hide or conceal the conductors. This is not only unsightly in appearance, as it easily collects dust and dirt, but also it is difiicult to alter the length oi the chains in varying the length of the fixture support.

The present invention is designed and intended to overcome these objections and to provide a structure which may be stamped and formed up out of sheet material in similar channel halves or sections which when placed together willitorm a complete hollow unit or link which may easily be connected with similar links, by hooking them together, to make a support of any desired length.

In making these sections at sheet metal they may be japanned, enamelled, painted, or coated with porcelain, or the like, after they have been formed up and before the pieces are assembled in units or hooked together, which is impossible with chains. The ad vantage oi this is apparent when it is considered that it is highly desirable to produce a smooth or enamelled surface on an entire fixture oi this kind, as for example, to make the Serial No. 40,225.

e fixture in white for decorative and V 1 reasons.

lay having openings adjacent the end, these hollow ch ends will very largely conceal an electric conductor inserted through them as the only place where it will appear is in space between the openings adjathe short cent hollow chain units, the greater portion 0*? the conductors being contained within the hollow chain units.

in carrying out this invention, each hollow hain unit consists of two similar sections 1 and up out of sheet material which is cut the form oi": a blank, as shown in Fig. 4, with a body portion 2 having sides 3 with at lliil ends t. At the ends of the body por tion are pertorations 5, and beyond these per-it rations ar e hooks 6 and 7 with openings 8 which are on opposite sides of the blank,

seen in F i g. 4:, but which, when two similaiblanks are placed together, as shown in Fig. will register with each other.

In tormin up these hollow chain sect-ions, the 3 are turned inwardly at right angles and the perforated ends of the body portion are bent at an angle to meet the angular ends 4 of the sides with the hooks 6 extending parallel with the body portion 2 but offset therein at the ends oi the sides 3. lt-

also obvious that the completed sech hooks 6 and openings at the ends be stamped up, or drawn, out of sheet ial, in which case it is unnecessary to he an 'ular ends 4, as shown in Fig. 4, and

l) .:-,inoother or more rounded section may be the result, which will look the same as the other section. I

When the separate sections are formed up, sliov Figs. 2 and 3, a vitrified coating 9, or cnaiael, or paint, japan, or the like may be applied to the outer surface of the sections without clogging the openings 5 or those of the hooks 6, and such a coating will also cover I told orjunction lines of the section as it o ade up.

fixture chain is made up of units each The pair of channel sections 1 p L -itely to form a hollow interior, the hooks at the opposite ends registering with each other, and the inside of the hooks being formed at the ends with a pointed or conportion 10, which, when the hooks of nits are connected, causes the inter sections to be drawn tightly tolVllGll connected in this way the units ill) have a solid appearance, as the junction line of the sections is scarcely visible.

In using a hollow fixture supporting chain of this kind, the upper and lower units 11 and 12 are preferably only the extremities of a hollow chain unit, secured into a properly shaped opening in a canopy 13 and lamp housing 14 respectively. To the housing 14 a lamp shade or globe 15 is attached in any well known manner, and the canopy 18 may be attached to a fixture stud or pipe 16 in the ceiling 17 by means of a metal strap or bracket 18. The bracket is secured to the fixture pipe 16 by means of a nut 19, and extending through depending ari'ns 20 at the ends of the strap 18 are threaded members 21 adapted to extend through the canopy 13 so that fastening nuts 22 can be applied thereto from the outside of the canopy to hold it in'place against the ceiling.

No conductor wires are shown in'connection with the fixture, but it is obvious that they can be easily threaded through the vari-' ous hollow chain units until they extend through any desired length of this hollow suspension chain. The chain itself can be varied in length by simply varying the the number 01* hollow chain units which are connected together. Thus it is not necessary to have the fixture chains cut to a fixed length before they are sent out in quantity on an order, but the hollow chain can be varied in length as desired at the place where, it is to be used. It is obvious that in stead of being rectangular or square, as shown, the hollow chain units may be round or various angular forms without departing from the'spirit of the invention.

hooks, th hooks of connected links'interengaging and each pair of sections being held together by the hooks of the connected link.

3. A fixture chain composed of hollow connected units, each unit comprising a pair of similar channel sections having separate projecting hooks at the ends with converging inner surfaces to draw the sections of connected units together.

4:. A fixture chain' composed of channel members forming hollow units or" similar sections having projecting angular end connecting hooks and openings at the ends of the hollow sections through which a conductor may be strung, the angular hooks of connected units interengaging drawing the sections together.

5. A hollow sl eet metal fixture chain comprising units e ch made of two similar sheet metal blanks, each section formed with a dished portion having openings at the ends and a flat angular hook projecting beyond the dished portion, the hooks of connected units inter-engaging and drawing their sections together, and the end openings being adjacent for threading a fixture wire therethrough.

GEORGE AREAS. j 

